Supporters of Hastings Friends of Yatma are invited to the following event put on by Hastings Palestine Solidarity Campaign::

Palestine Solidarity activists set up a ‘Separation Barrier’ near the underpass in Hastings Town Centre on Saturday, to draw attention the the apartheid policies and human rights abuses of the Israeli government.

(Hastings Friends of Yatma supporters are encouraged to support the following Hastings PSC actions, starting this weekend)

Replica Apartheid Wall, Hastings Town Centre

Saturday May 3rd. We will be building a mini replica of the Apartheid Wall, a bit like street theatre, performance art even! The plan is to raise awareness of the daily restrictions to the freedom of movement endured by the Palestinians We will be setting up from 10.30, to start at 11.00. At the ‘tunnel’ (Sports Direct).

Please come along to support, heckle, paint slogans – do whatever you want to do – the more the merrier. This is part of Five Days in May.

‘Bethlehem Unwrapped’ in Central London was the last time anyone built a replica of the Apartheid Wall in the UK. We aren’t quite in the same league!: they spent 8 months planning, 8 days building and a cost of several thousands. Here’s ‘Bethlehem Unwrapped’

Meeting with Yousef Al-Helou from Gaza

A packed meeting at the White Rock Hotel, Hastings, heard from freelance journalist Yousef Al-Helou, who gave a comprehensive presentation of the situation in Gaza, its history, and an evaluation of the present day state of affairs. We were told how everyday life is affected by the blockade. Yousef described Gaza as the world’s largest prison.

The meeting started with the film “Children In Chains”, detailing the abuse of Palestinian children in the Israeli military system. As Palestine Prisoner Day fell during the week, the meeting included the theme of political prisoners. The meeting was organised jointly by the Hastings Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Hastings Against War.

Yousef has worked with a wide range of media outlets including the BBC, CBC Radio Canada, Reuters Institute, Maan News Network and Real News among many others. At the meeting, he showed 3 of his reports for Real News. The last one showed how a growing number of Gazans are using social media to get the facts out to wider audience. This film, and a description of Yousef’s work is here: Gazans Use Social Media to Break Media Silence

Our next stall in Hastings Town Centre

Saturday 10 May. 12.00 – 14.00. To publicise our next meeting “Al Nakba,” and to promote solidarity work generally, we’ll be setting up a stall in the town centre.

Three weeks ago a dozen people met in the White Rock Hotel to form a new campaign group affiliated with the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. The group is not yet officially affiliated with the national group, but accepts the PSC constitution and goals. A core group was formed to take the organisation forward, and build the infrastruture, including executive roles, websites, Facebook groups, etc. Join the Facebook page here.

A number of initial campaigns have been suggested, including a boycott of Arad water meters (see description of the issue below), and boycott of Sodastream products.

Within a week, the first event was held, as the group hosted a graduate of Al Quds University, which is located in East Jerusalem. Tarek Ahmed described the conditions under which students must study at Al Quds university must study. Al Quds is in Area C, which means that Israeli Occupation Forces have free movement, and often harrass students with tear gas and riot control tactics, even when no disturbances have happened.

Tarek visited a number of Hastings sites, including Pestalozzi Village, and the Mayor of Hastings.

Comments Off on New Palestine Solidarity Campaign group in Hastings and St Leonard’s